Hall changes roles for a week

Updated 11:37 am, Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Hall, 55, is a former touring player in the Professional Bowlers Association. He made his lone TV appearance in the 1982 Cleveland Open, losing to eventual champion Art Trask 210-196 in the second match of the stepladder finals on ABC.

"Some people come into the shop and say, 'So, do you bowl?' " Hall said. "They have no idea who I am."

He has trimmed his league bowling to only the Thursday classic league in Latham. Hall is known by this generation as the commentator, alongside John Craig, for "Capital Region Bowling," the Sunday morning TV show on WXXA (Fox-23).

More Information

300 games

BOWLER

LANES

SERIES

Tim Boissy

Town 'n Country

812

Ken Feiden

Spare Time-Clifton Park

752

Don Frey

Town 'n Country

762

Trevor Losee

Town 'n Country

695

Glenn Massoth

Uncle Sam

659

Dennis Murphy

Town 'n Country

769

* — four-game series (all others three games)

When the show has its second taping of the season Sunday at Spare Time-Latham, Hall will be on the air again, but not as a broadcaster. Hall teamed up with Nick Galusha, also of Schenectady, to qualify for the semifinals of the Huck Finn/Northeast Bowling Proprietors of New York over 50/under 50 doubles.

The semifinals and final will be taped at 4:30 p.m. Sunday for airing the following Sunday at 11 a.m.

Pulling Hall out of his broadcast position to bowl is similar to the days Nelson Burton Jr., the longtime analyst on ABC's "Pro Bowlers Tour," would make a show, causing the PBA to find another bowler to occupy in the seat alongside Chris Schenkel.

"I didn't think of it that way, but, yeah, I guess it is," Hall said. "I'm trying to get a hold of (executive producer) Artie Hunsinger or somebody. I'd like to try to wear a wireless mike and do the show while I'm bowling. That would be a pretty cool angle to come from."

That doesn't appear to be in the plans now. NEBPONY president Carol Judge has reached out to Brian LeClair, a former touring pro from Athens, to fill Hall's seat for that episode.

Hall has been working with Galusha on his game in recent months, and the practice seems to have paid off. Galusha averaged 243.0 through the three-game qualifier and two-game rolloff. Hall averaged 206.8.

"Nick bowled great," Hall said. "I just tried to stay out of his way."

The TV semifinals and final are bowled Baker style, which means the bowlers alternate frames.

Local scene

Bowlers in Saturday's scratch qualifier (3:30 p.m., Hi-Way Rec) for this week's Huck Finn/NEBPONY will receive a minimum $25 gift card from Huck Finn's Warehouse. Entry fee is $35. Call Jeff Segel (439-7628) to reserve a spot. ... This week's tournament is a combined scratch and handicap venture. Two bowlers from each division advance to TV. The handicap bowlers, who paid $10 each to qualify using their league scores, totaled more than 430, and one in eight advanced. The scratch bowlers have a $40 entry fee Sunday ($35 re-entry), and one in five advances. The finalists from both divisions meet in the TV final, which will be taped Sunday, for $1,000.

Town 'n Country is offering a six-week adult/child league from Nov. 4 to Dec. 4. For information, call 456-1113 or visit http://bowltnclanes.com.

National news

The PBA's annual World Series of Bowling, during which numerous TV episodes are taped, begins Saturday and runs through Nov. 11 in Las Vegas. ... Anne Marie Duggan defeated Dana Miller-Mackieof Albuquerque, N.M., 199-173 in a matchup of Hall of Famers to win the USBC Senior Queens in Arlington, Texas.